Ranger Confidential

A half century ago, a collection of wilderness aficionados and dirtbag climbers arrived at the Lake Wenatchee Ranger Station on the Wenatchee National Forest to work as backcountry rangers, trail dogs, lookouts and fire prevention guards. With shared values and common purpose, the unlikely ensemble has endured, and we continue to meet to this day with periodic gatherings in a communion of fellowship. 

We have come to call our group the Aldo Leopold Society after the noted ecologist, forester and author who penned the Sand County Almanac. His collection of essays on natural history and wildland ecology energized the environmental movement and stimulated interest in a land ethic.

They came as far away as North Dakota, Connecticut, California and Oregon, and many had worked previous gigs in national parks like Yosemite, Crater Lake and North Cascades, and national forests like the Malheur, Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Hood. Most were were either college students or recent graduates working as seasonal employees. They all had a zest for the backcountry and a need to fund their educational pursuits.

With last year's summit meeting scrubbed due to numerous wildfires throughout the Wenatchee National Forest, this year's gathering would remain in doubt when the Little Giant Fire exploded up the Chiwawa River on July 15. During a reconnaissance mission in August, the pyrocumulus cloud (left) from the fire was clearly visible from Coles Corner.

The mission was a mixed bag. The first few days were clear and sunny, as witnessed by this shot of a Canadair C415 "Super Scooper" over Lake Wenatchee. But the last few days were not. The air quality was poor, with over 600 AQI, and I had to hunker down in our cabin. Breathing was particularly difficult at night when the smoke settled in. My lungs ached. The Little Giant Fire had grown to over 172,000 acres, or 270 square miles.

Yet by Labor Day, fire crews had substantially contained the blaze and air temperatures had cooled, so the Aldo Leopold Society reunion at the Owl Conservatory would proceed as planned.

The air quality and daytime temperatures were excellent. The view of Glacier Peak from Glacier View Campground (above) was simply stunning.

It would indeed a great couple days at the Owl Conservatory. Good conversations, good food, good times. Weather was remarkably warm and still summer-like, so we all hiked into Hidden Lake on Nason Ridge. The trail traverses through old-growth fir and large cedars, providing peek-a-boo views of Lake Wenatchee and Dirtyface Mountain.